Territorial rebalancing, political vision, political war? The announcement of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to lower part of the subsidies granted to cultural institutions in the metropolis of Lyon has deeply annoyed the players in the sector who find it difficult to believe in the explanations provided. Since then, the whole microcosm has wondered about the reasons which motivated Laurent Wauquiez to take this decision which must be voted on Wednesday in committee.
“It’s a misunderstanding of our work”
If Sophie Rotkopf, vice-president of the region in charge of culture, justified these often drastic, and above all unexpected, cuts by the desire for a “territorial rebalancing” for the benefit of poorly endowed departments, the cultural actors concerned remain skeptical. . “It is a misunderstanding of our work, we are present in Clermont, in Ain. The Resonance movement involves 150 places throughout the region,” underlines Isabelle Bertolotti, artistic director of the biennial of contemporary art, presented with a fait accompli four months before the launch of the event.
Same story on the side of the Villa Gillet which will be amputated by 350,000 euros, or a third of its budget. “We work with 40 high schools in the region. A few days ago, we organized a meeting with an Argentinian author in Volvic (Puy-de-Dôme)” supports Léa Danilewsky, communication manager of the establishment.
Faced with the silence of the region, and while the distribution of new budget envelopes has never been revealed, everyone tries to guess the reasons for this sudden withdrawal. Aline Sam-Giao, general manager of the national auditorium-orchestra of Lyon, which will lose half of its subsidies (45,000 euros), puts forward the economic argument: “All the structures affected have a vision of general interest and have no not for profit. However, we see that the region has recently interfered in lucrative projects such as Inversion Fest (private music festival at the Gerland stadium next June). »
“Defend the world we live in”
Another hypothesis: would the regional president seek to settle accounts with his political opponents, starting with environmentalists, including the mayor of Lyon, Grégory Doucet? “I don’t think that’s the case,” replies Aline Sam-Giao. But to see elected representatives of the Republic arguing about public money, I find that unacceptable. »
Moreover, would Laurent Wauquiez be hermetic to a certain form of culture? In any case, that is what Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert, deputy mayor of Lyon, believes. “He doesn’t want a culture that teaches you to think,” she told 20 Minutes, a few days ago. What Léa Danilewski refuses to believe: “Defending the Villa Gillet and the other structures means defending the world in which we live and promoting thought. I don’t see how we can get in the way of that. »
“There is definitely something missing. I cannot believe that it is only because Laurent Wauquiez is not interested in this culture”, supports Aline Sam-Giao, before concluding: “What we are asking for is simply a constructive dialogue. »
As the region did not respond to our requests, it is difficult to say what the missing element is. Pending possible answers Wednesday following the commission planned for the regional council.